Recent study by experts about higher blood sugar level being risky for pregnant women and babies has raised concern among all pregnant women. The study was done on 23,000 women in nine countries.

It is surprising that blood-sugar levels which were once considered in the normal range are now seen as causing a sharp increase in the occurrence of overweight babies with high insulin levels, early deliveries and other complications.

The study will come out in the March issue of Diabetes Care. This will give the common man an insight in to the study.

Earlier guidelines to diagnose gestational diabetes were based on blood-sugar levels that identified women at high risk for developing diabetes in the future. The guidelines were not related to risks to the baby or other risks to the mother.

A new study suggests that new measurements for determining dangerous blood sugar levels for pregnant women and their unborn babies mean that now two to three times as many women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Around 16% women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes instead of 5% to 8% as claimed by study author Dr. Boyd Metzger, a professor of metabolism and nutrition at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine.

The study reveals that blood sugar level of 92% or higher, a one-hour level of 180 or higher on a glucose tolerance test, or a two-hour level of 153 or higher on a glucose tolerance test can cause serious threat to mother and baby.

With these levels, chances of having an overweight baby is almost double, the frequency of having preeclampsia is almost double, and the frequency of early delivery is 40% greater. These are really significant differences.

In the light of these studies, women will now have to be more cautious during their pregnancy and get the tests done to avoid any repercussions.